Low ambient temperature refrigerator
First Claim
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1. A refrigerator adapted for use in low ambient temperature conditions comprising:
- a cabinet having an access opening;
a liner positioned in the cabinet having an inside surface defining a refrigerated space;
insulation between the liner and the cabinet;
a hinged insulated closure mounted to close the access opening of the cabinet in a closed position and to permit access to the inside of the refrigerator in an open position;
a cooling system for cooling the inside of the refrigerator including a cooling thermostat for sensing the temperature in the refrigerated space to energize the cooling system when the temperature inside the refrigerator rises above a selected temperature;
an ambient heater for heating the refrigerated space;
an ambient thermostat connected in an electrical circuit with the ambient heater and positioned to sense air temperature outside the refrigerator, wherein the ambient thermostat is connected to energize the ambient heater when the temperature outside the refrigerator is below a first predetermined temperature; and
further including a heater thermostat positioned inside the refrigerator and connected in a circuit with the ambient thermostat and the ambient heater, and wherein the ambient thermostat is arranged to connect the ambient heater and heater thermostat to a power supply when the temperature outside the refrigerator falls below the first predetermined temperature, and connects the cooling thermostat to the power supply when the temperature outside the refrigerator rises above a second predetermined temperature, whereby the ambient heater is energized through the heater thermostat when temperatures outside the refrigerator fall below the first predetermined temperature and the cooling system is energized through the cooling thermostat when temperatures outside the refrigerator rise above the second predetermined temperature.
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Abstract
A refrigerator adapted for use in low ambient temperature conditions such as in an unheated garage or outdoors on a deck or patio. The refrigerator is provided with a low ambient heater to add heat to the refrigerated space when ambient temperatures outside the refrigerator are low enough that items stored in the refrigerator could freeze. The low ambient heater is controlled by an ambient thermostat located to sense temperatures outside the refrigerator. The low ambient heater and ambient thermostat are connected in the refrigerator control so that the ambient heater can not be energized when the cooling system is operating.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A refrigerator adapted for use in low ambient temperature conditions comprising:
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a cabinet having an access opening; a liner positioned in the cabinet having an inside surface defining a refrigerated space; insulation between the liner and the cabinet; a hinged insulated closure mounted to close the access opening of the cabinet in a closed position and to permit access to the inside of the refrigerator in an open position; a cooling system for cooling the inside of the refrigerator including a cooling thermostat for sensing the temperature in the refrigerated space to energize the cooling system when the temperature inside the refrigerator rises above a selected temperature; an ambient heater for heating the refrigerated space; an ambient thermostat connected in an electrical circuit with the ambient heater and positioned to sense air temperature outside the refrigerator, wherein the ambient thermostat is connected to energize the ambient heater when the temperature outside the refrigerator is below a first predetermined temperature; and further including a heater thermostat positioned inside the refrigerator and connected in a circuit with the ambient thermostat and the ambient heater, and wherein the ambient thermostat is arranged to connect the ambient heater and heater thermostat to a power supply when the temperature outside the refrigerator falls below the first predetermined temperature, and connects the cooling thermostat to the power supply when the temperature outside the refrigerator rises above a second predetermined temperature, whereby the ambient heater is energized through the heater thermostat when temperatures outside the refrigerator fall below the first predetermined temperature and the cooling system is energized through the cooling thermostat when temperatures outside the refrigerator rise above the second predetermined temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A refrigerator adapted for use in a garage or outdoors where it can be subject to low ambient temperature conditions comprising:
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a cabinet having a top wall, a pair of sidewalls, a rear wall and a bottom wall defining a front opening; a plastic liner positioned inside the cabinet having a top wall, a pair of sidewalls, a rear wall and a bottom wall defining a refrigerated space and an outside surface; foamed in place insulation between the outside surface of the liner and the inside surface of the cabinet; a hinged insulated door mounted to close the front opening of the cabinet in a closed position and to permit access to the inside of the refrigerator in an open position; a cooling system for cooling the inside of the refrigerator including a cooling thermostat for sensing the temperature in the refrigerated space to energize the cooling system when the temperature in the refrigerated space rises above a selected refrigerated space temperature; an ambient heater for heating the refrigerated space comprising a first heater element mounted on one liner sidewall and a second heater element mounted on the other liner sidewall; an ambient thermostat connected in an electrical circuit with the ambient heater and positioned to sense the air temperature outside the refrigerator, wherein the ambient thermostat is connected to energize the ambient heater when the temperature outside the refrigerator is below a first predetermined temperature; and further including a heater thermostat positioned inside the refrigerator and connected in a circuit with the ambient thermostat and the ambient heater, and wherein the ambient thermostat is arranged to connect the ambient heater and heater thermostat to a power supply when the temperature outside the refrigerator falls below a first predetermined temperature, and connects the cooling thermostat to the power supply when the temperature outside the refrigerator rises above a second predetermined temperature, whereby the ambient heater is energized through the heater thermostat when temperatures outside the refrigerator fall to the first predetermined temperature and the cooling system is energized through the cooling thermostat when temperatures outside the refrigerator rise above the second predetermined temperature. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A refrigerator adapted for use in a garage or outdoors where it can be subject to low ambient temperature conditions comprising:
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a cabinet having a top wall, a pair of sidewalls, a rear wall and a bottom wall defining a front opening and a machinery compartment; a plastic liner positioned inside the cabinet having a top wall, a pair of sidewalls, a rear wall and a bottom wall defining a refrigerated space and an outside surface; foamed in place insulation between the outside surface of the liner and the inside surface of the cabinet; a hinged insulated door mounted to close the front opening of the cabinet in a closed position and to permit access to the inside of the refrigerator in an open position; a cooling system for cooling the inside of the refrigerator including a compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser connected in a cooling circuit; an adjustable cooling thermostat for sensing the temperature in the refrigerated space to energize the compressor for cooling the refrigerated space when the temperature inside the refrigerator rises above a selected refrigerated space temperature; an ambient heater for hearing the refrigerated space comprising a first heater element mounted on one liner sidewall and a second heater element mounted on the other liner sidewall; a heater thermostat for sensing the temperature in the refrigerated space and connected in circuit with the ambient heater to de-energize the ambient heater when the temperature in the refrigerated space rises above a predetermined refrigerated space temperature; an ambient thermostat positioned to sense the air temperature outside the refrigerator and connected to the cooling thermostat and the heater thermostat wherein the ambient thermostat energizes the ambient heater through the heater thermostat when the temperature outside the refrigerator falls below a first predetermined temperature, and wherein the ambient thermostat energizes the cooling thermostat when the temperature outside the refrigerator rises above a second predetermined temperature. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification